Apparatus for the reproduction of optical records



APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL RECORDS Original Filed July 21, 1948 Jan. 6, 1953 A. w. KINGSTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2,624,232 APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL RECORDS Original Filed July 21. 1948 Jan. 6, 1953 A. w. KiNGSTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NJ! I NTOE) APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL RECORDS Original Filed July 21, 1948 Jan. 6, 1953 A. w. KINGSTON 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOVB:

APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL RECORDS Original Filed July 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGA.

Jan. 6, 1953 A. w. KINGSTON 2,624,232

APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION o? opucm. RECORDS Original Filed July 21. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m1 alumna 'w s.

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 APPARATUS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL RECORDS Arthur William Kingston, Denham, England Original application July 21, 1948, Serial No.

39,915. Divided and this application September 13, 1950, Serial No. 184,604. In Great Britain July 31, 1947 12; Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for the reproduction of an optical record in the form of a perforated translucent film strip capable of bein reeled, the said film strip being contained within a detachable magazine adapted to be: mounted on the reproduction apparatus. The invention is especially concerned with cinematogrraph films, but it is also applicable to other kinds of records, c. g. optical sound record tracks, as well as cinematograph films in combination with optical sound record tracks.

An object of the invention is to enable such a record to be run repeatedly through. a machine adapted to use it, without the necessity for the record to be re-threaded through a gate and shifting mechanism.

Another ob ect is to enable such a record bearing strip to be run in either direction at will, e. g. in order to make use of two alternative recorded matters on a single film strip, without the necessity for re-threading.

Another object is to minimise the risk of damage to the record through clumsy handling or interference.

Another object is to avoid, in, some circumstances, the need for re-winding of the film strip between runs.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip or strips. said apparatus including a facing, a lightprojecting element projecting .t'rom said facing, two continuously rotatable driving coupling members, a film magazine comprising a casing including an apertured member having two spaced apertures positioned to register with two optical recordsrespectively, film guide means for constraining the film to move in a path adjacent the apertures in said apertured member, two opposed and generally fiat side walls spaced apart by said apertured member, at least one of said side walls being apertured in the vicinity of the film guide means to permit. the insertion of said ight-projection element through the apertured wall into a position in the light path through either of the said two apertures in the apertured member, a pair of bobbins mounted for rotation within said casing and each accessible for engagement one at a time with one of said drlving coupling members and film feeding means for feeding film from one bobbin towards said film guide means and away from said film guide means towards the other bobbin, said film feeding means being accessible for engagement by the other of said driving coupling members, the magazine being detachably mounted on said facing with the driving coupling members engaged with that bobbin on to which film strip is to be wound and said film-feeding means respectively.

The film guide means comprises a film-gate in the case of cinematograph projection and this film gate is arranged in or adjacent an edge wall of the casing which constitutes the apertured member and which is also further apertured to permit the entry of an element of a film shifting means to engage the perforations of a film strip extending between the bobbins in the casing for shifting the film-strip through the film-gate.

The magazine is usually formed symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular and transverse to the middle of the film-gate, the casing being provided with an aperture in each side wall, so that a film, bearing two records side by side and arranged to run in opposite directions, can be run through completely by merely inverting the magazine when th film has run once through the gate.

The reproduction apparatus may also comprise control means including a main control member such as a lever, operable by hand, to affect all or a number of the operations necessary to bring the parts of the apparatus into suitable cooperative relationship with one another when the magazine is mounted thereon whereby starting is made a simplified and foolproof operation.

Such control means may be a pivoted lever adapted to clamp or retain the magazine in the required precise position on the facing and also arranged to effect the engagement of the film driving means in the magazine with the driving connections on the facing as said lever is moved into the position to clamp the magazine in position on the facing.

A movable shutter is conveniently provided on the magazine for closing the exposure apertures in the magazine wall whilst the magazine is not in use and movement of the control means or clamping lever may also be utilised to move said shutter to open the exposure aperture, when the magazine has been placed on the facing and the control means or clamping lever is moved into the appropriate position.

The film shifting means for moving the film through the film-gate is mounted in such a manner as to be retractable from the operative position of shifting engagement with the film extending through the film-gate, so as to ofier no obstruction when a magazine is to be mounted upon or removed from the facing, and the movement of said film shifting means between the operative and retracted positions may also be effected by movement of the control means or magazine clamping lever.

Alternatively mounting of the magazine may be such as to require movement of the magazine towards the film-shifting mechanism as a final step in the operation of locating the magazine in position on the facing, and away from the filmshifting means as a first step in the operation of removing and changing or inverting the magazine on the facing, and again these movements of the magazine towards and away from the filmshifting mechanism may be effected by move ment of the control means or magazine clamping lever.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings as applied to a cinematograph projection apparatus of a small portable type for use in the home, and also as applied to an optical sound film reproducing apparatus.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in part sectional side elevation of a complete cinematograph projection apparatus including a portable container therefor and embodying a viewing screen.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with a part of the lid of the container omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2 and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3 on a similar enlarged scale with part of one flat side of the magazine shown cut away.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation on a still larger scale showing a part of the edge wall of the magazine at which the film-gate is located.

Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to, and on a similar scale to Fig. 5, and also showing the film-shifting means.

Fig. 7 shows an end portion of one form of cinematograph film suitable for use with the invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical control circuit.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one form of the magazine, a part of one side wall being broken away.

Fig. 10 shows a detail.

Fig. 11 is a view in sectional plan showing further features of the magazine, and

Fig. 12 is a view in sectional elevation of a part of the magazine and corresponding to Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a form of filmshifting means for use with an optical sound film record.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the projection apparatus illustrated comprises a box I having a lid or cover 2 hinged at 3.

Within the lid 2 are mounted a pair of reflecting mirrors 4 and 5, the mirror 4 being fixed in position in any convenient manner as shown and the mirror 5 being carried by a support 6 hinged within the lid at 1 so as to be capable of being housed therein when the lid 2 is in the closed position.

Near the free end of the lid 2 are mounted a pair of links 8 hinged at one end to the lid at t and at the other end to two corners of a lightweight frame |0 carrying a translucent screen H. In the open position of the lid as shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the position of operation of the projection apparatus, the lid 2 takes a fixed angular position relative to the box I as determined by a lid stay 12 of known form, the pivoted mirror 5 takes a position of appropriate angularity with reference to mirror 41, by engagement of the support 5 of mirror 5 with stops E3 in the lid 2, and the links 8 are held by clips H in an outwardly extending horizontal position. with the frame it) and screen H suspended vertically from their ends. The optical projecting system of the projector is indicated by 15 and the light path from the optical system is indicated generally by the line it in Fig. 1 and it will readily be seen that the reproduced pictures may be viewed from the outer side of the translucent screen H.

When the apparatus is not in use the pivoted mirror 5 is folded into the lid 2 and the links 8 are released from the clips l6 and moved about their pivots 9 to the position shown in dotted lines at I! so that the frame [0 and screen H are housed within the lid.

Within the box I is mounted a platform it covering approximately one half of the length of the box at the outer end thereof, and from the underside ofthe platform [8 is suspended an electric motor I9 forming a source of drive for the winding and shifting of the film, and a projection light source 20. Above an aperture in the platform 18 and over the light source 20 is mounted a reflecting prism 26 adapted to reflect light from the light source 20 generally horizontally through the optical projection system which may be of conventional form or may include an erecting prism. according to the disposition of the pictures on the film, and is also carried upon the platform I8.

The light source 20 is an electric lamp enclosed within an open ended cylindrical container 22 (Fig. 3) supported by a strap 23 from the platform IS, the container 22 being provided with a pair of diametrically opposed apertures in its wall, the axes of which are vertically aligned, the upper aperture being fitted with a tube 241 housing a condenser, said tube extending to with in a short distance of the plat-form l8, whilst the lower is fitted with. a concave mirror 25 adapted to reflect light upwards towards the prism 2|. The mirror 25 is retained in position by means of a screw ring 2b permitting removal of the mirror for cleaning.

Beneath the platform I8 is mounted a rotary obturator 27 of well known form for the intermittent interruption of the light path between the upper end of the condenser tube 26 and the prism 2|.

The driving motor I9 is preferably provided with an air impeller 28 on one end of its shaft shown diagrammatically in dotted lines in Fig. 2, adapted to draw air through an inlet aperture 29 provided in the wall of the box i, and the impeller 28 is housed within a duct 30 leading to the container 22 and thence to an outlet 3! at the opposite side of the box I. By this means a stream of air is directed on to the light source when the apparatus is in use, so that heat generated at the light source is dissipated.

In some cases there may be provided a dis placeable heat shield 32!, Fig. 10, disposed beaeagasa tween the obturator 21 and the underside of the platform I8, to absorb heat generated by the lamp at the start of a projection operation or during the speeding up of the motor l9.

The displaceable shield 32, Fig. 10, comprises a small sheet of metal gauze 33 carried in a light frame 34 pivoted at 35 on the upper wall of the container 22 so that the gauze 33 may cover or uncover the light aperture through the platform 18. A crank arm 36 extends from the frame 34 and is pivotally connected through a link with a lever 38 extending from a pin 39 pivoted in the wall of the container 22 and extending into the interior of the latter, the part of the pin 39 within the container carrying a wind vane 40. A tension spring is provided to bias the frame 34 into the shielding position in register with the end of the tube 24, in which position the gauze will intercept heat generated at the lamp before the cooling air stream is built up by the motor l9 and impeller 28. Thereafter, the wind vane 40 is moved about its pivot 39 by the pressure of the air stream through the lamp container 22 and the shield 32 is moved to uncover the light aperture through the platform.

The film magazine is in the form of a shallow casing comprising two main parallel side walls 42 and 43, Fig. 12, in the case illustrated of elongated rectangular form, and four peripheral edge walls 44, 45, 46 and 41. It is to be understood however, that the magazine may be of other than rectangular shape e. g. oval or elliptical. One of the side walls 42 or 43 and the edge walls 44-41 may be formed as a single integral moulding or as an assembly of pressings or stampings and the other wall 42 or 43 as a detachable plate, the whole being kept assembled by screws (not shown).

In the magazine casing are mounted a pair of film bobbins 48 and 49, one at each end, and the axles of these bobbins are formed by internally splincd tubes 50 (Fig. 12) rotatable in bearings formed by inwardly directed rims 5| surrounding apertures formed in the side walls 42, 43 oi the casing, the arrangement being such as to afford access to the splined interiors of the tubes 50 from the exterior of the magazine casing. At the middle of one edge wall 41 of the casing, which will be termed the front wall (Figs. 4 and 6) is mounted a film-gate constituted by an apertured fiat blade 52 pressed by springs 53 away from a fixed plate 54 carrying said springs 53, towards an apertured plate 55 disposed close to but slightly spaced from the inner surface of the front wall 41 of the magazine casing, which is apertured for register with the gate apertures in the plates 54 and 55 and blade 52.

The magazine illustrated by way of example is adapted for use with a film strip 55 (Fig. 7) bearing two sets of pictures 51 and 58 alongside one another and running in opposite directions along the film, and two sets of registering gate apertures are provided in the parts 52, 54, 55 forming the film-gate as well as in the front wall 41 of the magazine casing. The two sets of apertures may be disposed in alignment with one another at the middle of the film-gate and on opposite sides of the median plane parallel to the side walls of the casing, or, as illustrated in Fig. 5, on opposite sides of both that median plane and the centre line of the film-gate at right angles to that plane.

Between the plate 55 and the inner surface of the front wall 41 of the casing is mounted a sliding shutter 59 (Figs. 5 and 6) having two apertures 50 and GI and slidable between two extreme positions in each of which one or the other of the exposure apertures through the film-gate and the casing wall 41, and indicated by 62 and 93 in Fig. 5, is in register with one of the apertures 60 and 6| in the shutter 59 and is therefore uncovered, and the other aperture 62 or 63 is covered by the shutter, whilst in an intermediate position of the shutter 59 the apertures 62 and 63 are both covered by the shutter 59. The last mentioned position is that occupied by the shutter 59 when the magazine is not in use.

Behind the film-gate the two side walls 42 and 43 of the casing are each provided with an aperture $4 and a flange formed for example by moulding integrally with one of the walls 42 or 43, closes the gap between these apertures 64 at their sides and rear.

Behind the flange 65 and between the film bobbins 48 and 49 is mounted a toothed film feeding sprocket 66 (Fig. 4), having a tubular axle 51 journalled in bearings in the side walls 42 and 43 of the casing, in a manner similar to that previously described in respect of the axles 50 of the bobbins 48 and 49. The axles 50 of the two bobbins 48 and 49 and the axle 61 of the s rocket 65 are disposed parallel to and in alignment with one another and the tubular axle 61 of the sprocket 66 is also internally splined. A spring loaded arcuate fence 68 is provided at each side or the sprocket 65.

In the preferred construction a second or inner shutter l45is provided on the inner side of the film-gate as shown in Fig. 6 to exclude the entry into the ma azine of dust from the interior of the s ace within the flange 65 when the magazine is not in use, this inner shutter being apertured in a manner similar to the primary shutter 59 and being connected to the primary shutter 59 in any convenient manner for movement in unison therewith.

The film 56 runs off one of the bobbins 48 or 49, whichever is the trailing bobbin, towards the rear of the magazine casing as shown by the arrows in Fig. 4, forwards between one side of the sprocket B5 and one fence 88, then in a free loop to one end of the film-gate, through the filmate (in which it is fed with intermittent motion by means yet to be described), and is finally led between the other side of the sprocket 66 and the other fence 68 onto the other or take-up bobbin 48 or 49.

The film 53 in the case illustrated (see Fig. 7) is provided with perforations 69 along both marins but the driving sprocket 66 need engage with one set 01' perforations only.

Alternatively with a twin film such as that described above a sin le row of the perforations 69 may be provided along the centre line of the film between the two sets of pictures for cooperation with a sprocket 66 having one set of teeth only.

The magazine is mounted with one or the other of the walls 42 or 43 (43 in the case illustrated), in engagement with a facing formed by the platform I 8, being accurately located thereon by suitable means such as corner pieces 10 fixed to the platform 18 (Fig. 4). Alternatively the magazine may be located by spring loaded means urging the magazine a ainst suitable abutments on the platform. In the mounted position of the magazine on the facing formed by the platform It, the reflecting prism 2i extends into the interior of the magazin casing through the aperture 64 in one or the other of the side walls 42 or 43 whichever is the lower, and into the space bounded by the flanges 65 behind the film-gate at the front wall 41 of the magazine.

Th means whereby the film bobbins 48 and 49 and the sprocket 66 are rotated to move the film 56 is as follows:

The shaft of the motor I9 is geared through meshing pinions II, I2, to a longitudinal shaft 13, Fig. 2, carried in bearings beneath the platform I8 and the shaft 73 is geared through a worm gear H with a cross shaft I also carried in bearings beneath the platform I8. At one side of shaft I5 are mounted two spindles I6, of which one only is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, arranged for vertical movements in suitable guides these two spindles 16 being in axial alignment respectively with that one of the two axles 50 of the bobbins 48 and 49 which is functioning as the take-up bobbin and the axle 61 of the sprocket 66.

Each spindle 16 at its upper end is provided with a long pinion I8 and is adapted to be driven through a suitable gear train 19 from the common cross shaft 15.

The dimensions of the long pinions 18 are selected so that they are capable of making keyed engagement with the splined tubular ames 58 and 61 when the spindles I6 are raised, through suitable apertures in th platform I8 beneath the magazine.

A rocking bar 88 is carried in brackets 8| depending from the platform I8 and from this bar extend leaf springs 82, the free ends of which engage in grooves in collars 83 fixed on the spindles I6.

It will readily be seen that by rocking the bar 80 clockwise in Fig. l th spindles 16 will be raised by the leaf springs 82. Should the pinions I8 not be in exact register with the splined tubular axles 50 or 6'! engagement may be delayed, but the leaf springs 82 will remain under load so that full engagement will take place when rotation of the spindles I6 commences.

The rocking movements are imparted to the bar 80 through a linkag comprising a rod 84, a bell crank 85 and a horizontally movable bar 86, the latter being movable longitudinally through control means yet to be described.

Retention of the magazine in the mounted position on the platform I8 is by means of a clamping lever 8'! fixedly mounted on a spindle 88 (Fig. 2), rotatable in spaced brackets 89 on the platform I8. This lever 81 is capable of being rocked about the axis of spindle 88 to an approximately vertical position to permit mounting or removal of a magazine, or to an approximately horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1 to engage and hold the magazine in place on the platform I8. A sliding bolt 90 is provided on the lever 81 the nose of which engages above an abutment 9| to retain the lever 81 in the magazin clamping position as shown in Fig. 1.

This lever 81 in the case illustrated also constitutes the main control or setting member for bringing about the co-operative disposition of parts necessary for carrying out projection after the magazine has been mounted on the facing.

'One end of the spindle 88 carrying the lever 81 carries a short lever 92 (Figs. 1 and 2), connected with the above described bar 85 of the linkage for raising or lowering the spindles 18. the arrangement being such that as the clamping lever 81 is turned upwards i. e. counterclockwise in Fig. 1, the spindle 88 is rocked in s the brackets :99 and the rod 86 is moved longitudinally in the direction permitting the spindles 76 to take their lowered position in which the long pinions 73 are out from engagement with the take-up bobbin and the film driving sprocket of the magazine.

Upon lowering the clamping lever 87 into the position shown in Fig. 1 for holding a magazine in position on the platform I8, the rod 86 is drawn in the reverse direction to rock the bar and the leaf springs 52 to raise the spindles l6 and bring about the above described driving connection between the spindles I6 and the take-up bobbin, and the winding sprocket in the magazine respectively.

The means for efiecting the intermittent shifting of the film 56 through the film-gate of the magazine will now be described. In a bearing in the platform I8, Figs. 5 and 6, is rotatably mounted a spindle 93. This spindle 93 carries a gear wheel 94 and a disc 95 to which is pivotally connected eccentrically, one end of a link 96 A plate ill is mounted at one of its ends for pivotal movement about the axis of the spindl 93.

In bearings in the plate 91 is mounted a rotatable spindle 98 provided with a gear wheel 99 in constant mesh with the gear wheel 98 on the spindle 93; its spindle 98 is also provided with a disc I08 on which is eccentrically and pivotally mounted one end of a lever IN the free end of which is in the form of a claw I02 suitable to engage the perforations 69 in the film strip 56. The end of the link 96 is pivotally connected to a point intermediate the ends of the lever IGI.

The plate 97 is arranged for movement in a plane generally parallel to that of the platform I8, about the axis of spindle 93 between one position in which it lies close to the front of the magazine as shown in full lines in Fig. 6 and another position in which it is away from the front of the magazine as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The gear wheel 94 on spindle 93 is in constant mesh with a drive pinion I03 driven through suitable gearing from th motor driven shaft 73, this drive pinion I63 being also in constant mesh with the drive gear train for the obturator 21.

With a magazine in position and the apparatus in operation, the plate 97 occupies the position close to the magazine and the claw I82, while making compound oscillatory movements due to the rotation of the geared discs 95 and I00, in a manner well understood in the art of cinematography, enters slots I04 provided in the front wall 41, the shutter 59, the plate 55, the blade 52 and the back plate 58 of the film-gate of the magazine and if necessary the inner shutter I56, and engages successive perforations 69 on the film strip 56 to impart the required step-by-step shifting movement of the film through the film-' gate. When reproduction or projection is finished or is to be interrupted, to permit a change or inversion of the magazine, the plate 97 is moved about the axis of spindle 93 to the position withdrawn from the magazine, in which the claw I82 is incapable of engaging through the wall and film-gate of the magazine and thus no obstruction is offered by the claw I82 to mounting and dismounting of a magazine.

The described movements of the plate 91 are also effected by the movements of the magazine clamping lever 87. For this purpose, the spindle 88 carrying the lever 87 bears a pinion I05 rotatable by and with the spindle as the lever is memes moved, this pinion I05 meshing with a second pinion I05 engaging a rack I07 on the plate 91. By this means as the clamping lever 81 is raised to release the magazine to permit its removal from the platform IS the plate 91 is moved away from the magazine, whilst upon return movement of the clamping lever 81 to the position shown in Fig. l to clamp the same or another magazine on the platform I8, the plate 91 is returned to the position near to the magazine in which the claw I02 is capable of entering the film-gate and engaging the perforations 69 of the film. A flexible or yielding drive may be provided between the spindle 80 and the pinion I05 e. g. by the provision of a spring coupling between these parts, so that the plate 91 may be moved with certainty to the full home position adjacent the magazine before the clamping lever 81 reaches its extreme position for clamping engagement with the magazine.

The movements of the clamping lever 81 and also be utilised to move the sliding shutters 59 and I45 to cover or uncover the exposure aperture of the magazine.

For this purpose there is mounted on the platform l8 a pivoted bell crank lever I08 (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6), having an open notch I09 with divergent sides formed in the extremity of one of its limbs, adapted to receive 2. lug I I extending from the shutter 59 through a slot in the front magazine wall 41. The end of the other limb of the bell crank lever I08 is apertured for the reception of the end of a lever I I I pivoted at a point intermediate its ends on one of the brackets 89. On the end of the spindle 88 carrying the magazine retaining lever 87 is fixedly mounted a disc II2 provided With a cam slot I I3 in which engages the bent end of the lever III remote from the bell crank I08.

With the clamping lever 81 raised in preparation for the mounting of a magazine on platform I8, the slotted disc H2, lever III and bell crank lever I08 are in positions such that when a magazine, with its shutters 59 and I46 in the aperture covering position, is placed on the platform I8 the lug I I0 engages in the notch I09 of the bell crank lever I08. Movement of the lever 8'! downwards into the magazine clamping position rotates the disc II2 to rock levers III and I08, the latter to an extent to move the shutters 59 and I46 by a. distance to bring one or other of the apertures 60 or SI in the front shutter 59 and the corresponding aperture in the rear or inner shutter I46 into register with the appropriate magazine and film-gate aperture 62 or 53 (Fig.

The magazine is preferably provided with braking or restraining means for preventing movement of the film 56 or the bobbins 48, 49 within the casing of the magazine when the latter is not in use, such braking means being operable to release the film for movement as the magazine is mounted on the platform.

One form of such braking means is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 and comprises a pair of levers II4 mounted on spaced pivots H5 in the magazine and carrying rollers IIB adapted to engage in the film loop at each side of the film-gate, said levers Hi being connected at their ends remote from the rollers by a tension spring III whereby the film loop is tensioned and held frictionally against movement in the film-gate. The ends of the levers II4 near the tension spring I II are pivotally connected with a pair of guided crossing bars H8 which extend between one of the side walls 42 or 43 of the magazine casing,

and the flanges of the bobbins 4t and 49. The ends of the bars H8 are adapted, under the urge of the spring III, to engage with wedge-section portions H9 of the magazine casing whereby the bars IIB are thrust into frictional engagement with the edge of the roll of film or with the flanges of the bobbins.

Release of the braking devices is eifected by rocking the levers I I4 as the magazine is mounted on the platform I8. For this purpose a taperheaded sliding stud I20 is mounted for sliding movement in the rear wall of the flange 65 closing the space between the apertures fi l in the side walls of the magazine casing, this stud I20 making engagement with abutments I2I provided on the levers H4. The arrangement is such that as the light-reflecting prism 2| enters an aperture 54 in the magazine casing as the magazine is mounted on the platform or facing I8, the prism housing I22 engages the stud I20 to move it rearwards in the wall of flange 65 so that the levers III are rocked against the spring III, the tension on the film loop being thereby released and the crossing bars II8 withdrawn from the shaped portions II9 of the magazine casing wall to free the film spool or the bobbin flanges.

Means are also provided tostop the apparatus automatically when projection of a film has been completed.

On the plate 91 is pivotally mounted a wiper I23 one end of which is adapted, when the plate 91 is in the position close to the magazine i. e. when the machine is in operation, as shown in full lines in Fig. 6, to extend, under the urge of a blessing spring, through an aperture in the front wall 41, and the shutter 59 of the filmgate and into contact with the edge, usually the perforated edge, of the film 56. The end of the wiper I23 is incapable of passing through the perforations 69 of normal size in the film but one or a number of elongated perforations I24 are provided near the end of the film, of a size permitting the end of the wiper I23 to pass through and also through further apertures in the blade 52 and the back plate 54 of the filmate.

Thus when the end of the film 56 approaches close to the gate and an elongated perforation I24 in the film comes into register with the end of the wiper I23 the wiper is permitted to rock under the urge of the blessing spring, about its pivot on plate 91, and this movement of the wiper is utilised to open or close contacts I25 in an electrical control circuit to stop the apparatus.

A suitable control circuit is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. In this circuit I26 are the main terminals and starting of the motor I! is dependent upon a sequence of circuit closing operations including closing of contacts I21, conveniently located on the platform I8, by the operation of placing the magazine I28 in position on the platform, closing of contacts I 29 by shooting the bolt on the magazine retaining lever 81 into the locking position, and the closing of contacts I30 by means of a suitably located start button I3I adapted to be depressed against a return spring (not shown). A detent I32 is provided for engagement over a projection I33 on the start button I3I to maintain the latter in its lowered position after depression, said detent I32 being under the control of a solenoid or equivalent electrical relay I34.

The relay I34 is caused to operate, when the wiper I23 is permitted to rock in the manner escapes previously described to close contacts I25, to withdraw the detent I32 from the projection I33 on start button I3I, so that the latter is permitted to rise to interrupt the circuit to the motor I9 as well as to the light source 20.

The solenoid I34 is pivotally mounted at I35 as shown in Fig. 4 and is capable of being rocked about its pivot at any time by hand by means of a knob I36 on a pin connected with the solenoid body and extending through a slot I31 in the platform I8, to disengage the detent it? from projection I33 and permit start button I3I to rise to break the electrical circuit. The solenoid is maintained in its normal or operative position by means of a tension spring I38 holding the pin carrying the knob I36 against one end of the slot I31.

Means are also provided in the form of a cam I", Fig. 2, on the bar so, and a push rod I43 to urge the pivoted solenoid I34 into the position where the detent is disengaged from the projection I33 on the pin carrying the finger knob ItI, as the magazine retaining lever 81 is raised and to retain the solenoid I34 in that position while the lever 81 remains raised.

Thus it the finger knob is inadvertently depressed whilst there is no magazine on the facing it will not be retained depressed, so that premature starting of the apparatus on placing a magazlne in position cannot occur.

When a magazine is to be used it is necessary tor the operator to know on which of the bobbins within the magazine the film is reeled. For this purpose windows such as I39, Fig. 4, may be provided in one or both of the side walls 42 and 33 through which the presence or absence of a film at a bobbin can be observed.

Alternatively an observable indicator (not shown), may be provided, the position of which is varied as the diameter of the film reel wound on one bobbin changes.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a form of magazine for use with a combined optical sound and picture film record. This magazine embodies the essential features of the magazine previously described including a film driving sprocket 36 and a filmgate through which the film is shifted with intermittent motion forthe purpose of the picture projection.

Within the magazine behind the sprocket as is mounted a tubular friction guide member I40 rebated on the exterior around which the film is caused to move with its edges in surface contact with the parts of member I49 at each side of the rebate, on its way from the film bobbin 49 to the driving sprocket 66 and thence to the gate. Thus in operation the film is moved over the guide member I43 at a constant continuous speed, on its way to the picture film-gate through which it is moved intermittently by the claw I02 as previously described.

The interior of the guide member No is accessible through both the side walls 42 and d3 of the magazine and two further lined housings I4I are provided in the magazine in symmetrical disposition on each side of the guide member I40, both being accessible through the two side walls 42 and 43.

On the racing platform i8 are mounted a photo-electric cell I42 in a position for entry into the interior of the guide member I40 as a magazine is placed in position on the platform l8, and also a light source I43 for entry into one or other of the housings I4I according to which side 42 or 43 of the magazine is lowermost, and in a manner similar to that previously described in connection with the prism 2|. The walls of the housings Mi and also of the guide member Hill are provided with two spaced apertures permitting light from the light source use to traverse the translucent sound record on the film strip and reach the photo-electric cell I 32. The latter is connected with a suitable amplifier in the usual well known manner.

In the case of a film strip bearing sound records only, the film-gate in the front wall of the magazine will be omitted and movement of the film strip carried out entirely by the sprocket t5, film guide means being provided within the magazine to cause the film to move in a path adjacent the apertures in the apertured member.

Whilst in the preferred example described and illustrated tthe magazine is provided with apertures 64 in both its side walls 62 and 43 and the magazine is arranged to be inverted after the film has been run through once, in order that the film may be run through a second time in the same direction relative to the optical system I5 to project the second set of pictures, it will be understood that in some cases one aperture 64 at one side only is provided and instead of inverting the magazine in order to project the second row of pictures (or to reproduce a separate optical sound record) the magazine may be maintained in its origlnal mounted position and the direction of movement of the film past the optical system reversed by the use of a suitable reversing gear of any convenient form in the driving train and a third spindle IS with a long pinion or splined end 78 for engagement with the splined hollow axle of the formerly trailing, and now take-up, bobbin, the reflecting prism 2| in such case being adjustable in height relative to the platform I8 and the magazine in order to project the light beam through the alternative vertically spaced (and in this case vertically aligned) gate apertures according to which row of pictures is to be projected (or which record is to be reproduced).

Slippable friction coupling members of known form (not shown) are embodied in the drives to the bobbins to allow for changes in peripheral speeds oi the reeled film and the driving sprocket as the diameter of the film reel increases.

In some cases e. g. where small size films of short length are to be employed, the film driving sprocket 66 of the previously described construction may be omitted, and an arrangement em ployed such as that shown in Fig. 9, in which the film is moved through the gate by the intermittently engaging claw I02 and reeled up by the driving take-up bobbin, the film in its passage towards and away from the gate passing guide rollers I43 disposed relatively close to one another, and around a pair of yielding spring arms or guides 144 disposed one at each end of the film-gate whereby the intermittent pull of the claw on the film at the film-gate is smoothed and the motion of the bobbins remains substantially continuous. A rubbing plate M5 is provided between the rollers to prevent the two ends of the film loop from rubbing upon one another.

Instead of the film-shifting claw I02 and the driving parts therefor being carried upon a movable support such as the plate 91, to permit the retraction of the claw to a position remote from a mounted magazine, the magazine itself may be arranged to be moved on the facing in the course of the mounting or dismounting operations, towards and away from the claw. For example the magazine may be arranged to be placed on the facing l8 in a position against a springloaded or other yielding stop in which position it is spaced from the claw and thereafter urged forward to an accurate pro-arranged position for co-operation with the film-shifting claw 80, being held in that position by the clamping lever 81. In such case the lever 81 may be provided with a cam or like abutment surface for engagement with a shaped part of the magazine casing, to urge the magazine into said pro-arranged position as the clamping lever 81 is moved into the magazine clamping position and vice versa.

The platform i8 is preferably mounted in the box I so as to be tiltable upwards about a pivot mounting I50 at the inner end to permit access to the underside for inspection of parts, lamp replacement and so on.

The present application is a division of applicant's pending application Serial Number 39,915, filed on July 21, 1948.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a detachable film magazine, containing therein at least one spool, bearing film, and for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip, said apparatus including a light source, a facing for the reception of said detachable film magazine, a continuously rotatable driving coupling member for engagement with said spool within said film magazine, a light-reflecting element projecting from said facing in a position to lie at least partly within said film magazine located in an operating position on said facing and to reflect light from said light source through said film in said maga= zine, film-shifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said support for engaging the perforations of said film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a movable member for retaining said magazine in a fixed position on the facing and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of said film within the magazine.

2. Apparatus for use with a detachable film magazine, containing therein at least one spool, bearing film, and for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip. said apparatus including a light source, a facing for the reception of said detachable film magazine, a continuously rotatable driving coupling member for engagement with said spool within said film magazine, means enabling said driving coupling member to be moved between a. retracted position and a position in which it projects from said facing, a light-reflecting element projecting from said facing in a position to lie at least partly within said film magazine located in an operating position on said facing and to reflect light from said light source throughisaid film in said magazine, film-shifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said support for engaging the perforations of said film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a movable member for retaining said magazine in a fixed position on the facing, means linking said movable member with the means for moving said driving coupling member between its two positions and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claws can engage perforations of said film within the magazine and raises said driving coupling above said facing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including two retractable driving coupling members each adapted to be raised to its operative position by movement of said movable member into its position for retaining said magazine on the facing.

4. Apparatus for use with a detachable film magazine, containing therein at least one spool, bearing film, and for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip, said apparatus including a light source, a facing for the reception of said detachable film magazine, a continuously rotatable driving coupling member for engagement with said spool within said film magazine, a member for cooperation with said magazine to locate said magazine in the required position on said facing, an electric driving motor, and current-supplying circuit, contact means adapted to interrupt the circuit for supplying current to said electric motor, a light-reflecting element projecting from said facing in a position to lie at least partly within said film magazine located in an operating position on said facing and to reflect light from said light source through said film in said magazine, film-shifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said support for engaging the perforations of said film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a movable member for retaining said magazine in a fixed position on the facing and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining a magazine on said facing also moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of said film within the magazine and actuates said contact means to complete the circuit for supplying current to said motor.

5. Apparatus for use with a detachable film magazine, containing therein at least one spool, bearing film, and for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip, said apparatus including a light source, a facing for the reception of said detachable film magazine, a continuously rotatable driving coupling member for engagement with said spool within said film magazine, a plurality of stop members fixed to said facing for co-operation with said magazine to locate said magazine in the required position on said facing, an electric driving motor and current-supplying circuit, contact means adapted to interrupt the circuit for supplying current to said electric motor, a light-reflectin element projecting from said facing in a position to lie at least partly within said film magazine located in an operating position on said facing and t0 reflect light from said light source through a film in said magazine, film-shifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said support for engaging the perforations of said film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a movable member for retaining said magazine in a fixed position on the facing, means linking said movable member with the means for moving said driving coupling member between its two positions l and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of said film within the magazine, actuates said contact means to complete the circuit for supplying current to said motor and raises said driving coupling above said facing.

6. Projection apparatus for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip bearing two optical records side by side and arranged running in opposite directions on the film strip, said projection apparatus including a facing, a light-projecting element projecting from said facing, a driving coupling member, film-shifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on support for engaging the perforations of the film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a film magazine comprising a casing including an edge wall having two spaced apertures positioned to register with the two optical records on the film and two further spaced apertures positioned to register with the perforations on the film, said further apertures permitting the entry of said claw to engage perforations of the film when the magazine is in either position with respect to the facing of the projector, a single film gate adjacent the apertured portion of said edge wall, two opposed and generally fiat side walls spaced apart by said edge wall, each side wall being apertured in the vicinity of the film gate to permit the insertion of said light-projection element through either side wall into a position behind the film gate, a pair of bobbins mounted for rotation within said casing and each accessible for engagement one at a time with said driving coupling member, the magazine being detachably mounted on said facing with the driving coupling member engaged with that bobbin on to which the film strip is to be wound, means enabling relative movement to be imparted between the support of said film-shifting means and said magazine to move said claw between a position in which said claw can engage the perforations of the film and a position in which said claw is spaced from the film gate, a movable member for retaining the magazine in a fixed position on the facing and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of the film.

7. Projection apparatus for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip bearing two optical records side by side and arranged in opposite directions on the film strip, said projection apparatus including a facing, a light-projecting element projecting from said facing, a driving coupling member, means enabling said driving coupling member to be moved between a retracted position and a position in which it projects from said facing, filmshifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said support for engaging the perforations of the film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a film magazine comprising a casing including an edge wall having two lid spaced apertures positioned to register with the two optical records on the film and two further spaced apertures positioned to register with the perforations on the film, said further apertures permitting the entry of said claw to engage perforations of the film when the magazine is in either position with respect to the facing of the projector, a single film gate adjacent the apertured portion of said edge wall, two opposed and generally flat side walls spaced apart by said edge wall, each side wall being apertured in the vicinity of the film gate to permit the insertion of said light-projection element through either side wall into a position behind the film gate,-a pair of bobbins mounted for rotation within said casing and each accessible for engagement one at a time with said driving coupling member, the magazine being detachably mounted on said facing with the driving coupling member engaged with that bobbin on to which the film strip is to be wound, means enabling relative movement to be imparted between the support of said film-shifting means and said magazine, to move said claw between a position in which said claw can engage the perforations of the film and a position in which said claw is spaced from the film gate, a movable member for retaining the magazine in a fixed position on the facing, means linking said movable member with the means for moving said driving member between its two positions and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also raises said driving coupling member above said facing and into engagement with one of said bobbins and moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of the film.

8. Projection apparatus according to claim 7, including a further driving coupling member, driving means within the magazine for engagement therewith and for moving the film in a direction from one bobbin through the film gate towards the other bobbin, means enabling said further driving coupling member to be moved between a retracted position and a position in which it projects from the facing and means linking said movable member with the means for moving said further driving coupling member between its two positions, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also raises said further driving coupling member above said facing and into engagement with the driving means within the magazine.

9. Projection apparatus for the reproduction of optical records in the form-of a perforated film strip bearing two optical records side by side and arranged running in opposite directions on the film strip, said projection apparatus including a facing, a light-projecting element projecting from said facing, a driving coupling member, film-shifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said support for engaging the perforations of the film, to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a film magazine comprising a casing including an edge wall having two spaced apertures positioned to register with the two optical records on the film and two further spaced apertures positioned to register with the perforations on the film, said further apertures permitting the entry of said claw to engage perforations of the film when the magazine is in either position with respect to the facing of the projector. a shutter within the magazine and movable bc tween positions in which the appropriate spaced aperture is open and a position in which both spaced apertures are closed. a single film gate adjacent the apertured portion of said edge wall, two opposed and generally flat side walls spaced apart by said edge wall, each side wall being apertured in the vicinity of the film gate to permit the insertion of said light-projection element through either side wall into a position behind the film gate, a pair of bobbins mounted for rotation withm said casing and each accessible for engagement one at a time with said driving coupling member, the magazine being detachably mounted on said facing with the driving coupling member engaged with that bobbin on to which the film strip is to be wound, means enabling relative movement to be imparted between the support of said film-shifting means and said magazine to move said claw between a position in which said claw can engage the perforations of the film and a position in which said claw is spaced from the film gate, a movable member for retaining the magazine in a fixed position on the facing, means linking said movable member with the shutter of the magazine in position on said facing for moving said shutter between its two positions and means linking said movable member with the support of said filmshifting means, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also moves the shutter to open the appropriate one of said spaced apertures and moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of the film.

10. Projection apparatus according to claim 9,

including means enabling said driving coupling member to be moved between a retracted position and a position in which it projects from said facing, and means linking said movable member with the means for moving said driving coupling member between its two positions, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a posit-ion for retaining said magazine on said facing also raises said driving coupling member above said facing and into engagement with one of said bobbins.

11. Projection apparatus for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip bearing two optical records side by side and arranged running in opposite directions on the film strip, said projection apparatus including a facing, a light-proj ecting element projecting from said facing, a driving couplin member, filmshifting means including a support and a claw mounted for oscillatory movement on said sup port for engaging the perforations of the film to move the film intermittently through the apparatus, a film magazine comprisin a casing ineluding two apertured members one of which is an edge wall of the magazine, each of said apertured members having two corresponding spaced apertures positioned to register with the two op tical records on the film and said edge wall having two further spaced apertures positioned to register with the perforations on the film, said further apertures permitting the entry of said claw to engage perforations of the film when the magazine is in either position with respect to the facing of the projector, two shutters movable between positions in which the appropriate pair of spaced apertures are open and positions in which both pairs of spaced apertures are closed, means connecting said shutters together for movement in unison, a single film gate formed by said apertured members, two opposed and generally flat side walls spaced apart by said edge wall, each side wall being apertured in the vicinity of the film gate to permit the insertion of said light-projection element through either side wall into a position behind the film gate, a pair of bobbins mounted for rotation within said casing and each accessible for engagement one at a time with said drivin coupling member, the magazine being detachably mounted on said facin with the driving coupling member engaged with that bobbin on to which the film strip is to be wound, means enabling relative movement to be imparted between the support of said film-shifting means and said magazine to move said claw between a position in which said claw can engage the perforations of the film and a position in which said claw is spaced from the film gate, a movable member for retaining the magazine in a fixed position on the facing, means linking said movable member with the shutters of the magazine in position on said facing for moving said shutters and means linking said movable member with the support of said film-shiftin means, the arrangement being such that movement of the movable member into position for retaining the magazine on the facing also moves the shutters to open the appropriate spaced aperture and moves the support of said film-shifting means to the position in which its claw can engage perforations of the film.

12. Apparatus for the reproduction of optical records in the form of a perforated film strip bearing two optical records side by side and arranged running in opposite directions on the film strip, said apparatus including a facing, a lightreilecting element projecting from said facing, a film magazine detachably mounted on said lacing and including a film-bearing spool, said magazine comprising a casing including an apertured member having two spaced apertures positioned to register with the two optical records on the film, a shutter within the magazine and movable between positions in which the appropriate spaced aperture is open and a position in which both spaced apertures are closed, a single film gate adjacent the apertured portion of said apertured member, two pins fixed to said shutter and disposed so as to project outwardly through two further apertures in said apertured member, two opposed and generally flat side walls spaced apart by said apertured member, each side wall being apertured in the vicinity of the film gate to permil; the insertion of said light-reflecting element through either side wall into a position behind the film gate, a movable member for retaining the magazine in a fixed position on the facing and means linking said movable member with the shutter of the magazine including a forked member adapted to engage the appropriate one of the said two pins depending upon the position in which the magazine is located on said facing, the arrangement being such that movement of said movable member into a position for retaining said magazine on said facing also moves the shutter to open the appropriate spaced aperture.

ARTHUR WILLIAM KINGSTON.

(References on following page) 19 REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 2,033,969 file of this patent: gggfg: UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,211,334 Number Name Date 2,317,096 1,372,675 Davis Mar. 29, 1921 2,342,511 1,760,219 Thornton May 27, 1930 1,801,061 Thornton Apr. 14, 1931 1,935,572 Leventhal Nov. 14, was 10 Number 1,969,484 Stewart Aug. '1, 1924 273-360 Name Date Branch Jan. 7, 1936 McMahon et a1. Nov. 21, 1939 Streyckmans July 2, 1940 Lechleitner Aug. 13, 1940 Dunn Apr. 20, 1943 Gaty Feb. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 24, 1927 

